A collection of moving, tear-jerking songs recommended for women in their 90s—heartfelt tunes that resonate with the soul.

Though I wait for youHirano Aiko

Kimi Matedomo (1971 Re-recorded Stereo Version)

Aiko Hirano’s “Kimi Matedomo” is a masterpiece that beautifully sings of the loneliness and solitude of someone who keeps waiting.

Its heartrending vocals and profound lyrics will resonate deeply with older listeners.

Loved by many as a postwar Japanese hit, it has also been featured in films and TV dramas.

The delicate imagery—flowers by the window, a hazy evening, the sound of rain—leaves a strong impression.

It’s a song I especially recommend to anyone who has spent part of their life waiting for someone precious.

Listening with the lyric sheet might help you immerse yourself even more deeply in the world of the song.

The Blues I Won’t Forget YouAwaya Noriko

Noriko Awaya “The Blues I Won’t Forget You” (from “Noriko Awaya Complete Song Collection”). Please note: This is restored from an SP record, so there may be noise and distortion originating from the disc.

Noriko Awaya’s “Kimi Wasureji no Blues” is a moving classic centered on the theme of lost love.

The lyrics evoke the image of a woman opening her window and singing on a lonely night.

Awaya’s powerful yet heartrending voice beautifully conveys the sorrow of a love that has passed.

The song has been used in many films and TV dramas and has been cherished by audiences across generations.

When you feel like reminiscing about old memories or thinking of someone dear, why not listen to it slowly? You’re sure to spend a wonderful time that soaks into your heart.

Sad SakeMisora Hibari

Sad Sake (with spoken lines)

Hibari Misora’s “Kanashii Sake” is a touching masterpiece that entrusts the pain of heartbreak to sake.

The taste of the drink overlaps with the tears of a lost lover, and the more she drinks, the more the face she wants to forget rises to the surface—poignant lyrics that strike the heart.

Released in 1966, the song became a massive hit, selling 1.45 million copies.

Misora’s clear, crystalline voice and profound emotional expression deeply move listeners.

It’s a song to play when you want to heal the pain of lost love or reflect on life.

It will surely resonate in your heart.

Enoshima ElegySugawara Totoko

Totsuko Sugawara: Enoshima Elegy

Todoko Sugawara’s “Enoshima Elegy” is a classic that overlays the sorrow of a broken heart with the beautiful scenery of Enoshima.

Her singing, featuring a distinctive vibrato, delicately conveys the ache of love.

Released in 1951, it became a huge hit, even adapted into a film.

For older listeners, it may spark memories of the past or reflections on life’s turning points.

It’s recommended for those who resonate with nostalgic landscapes and experiences of lost love.

Why not spend some quiet time listening and slowly reminiscing about days gone by?

school daysPegī Hayama

school days

A song filled with youthful memories comes back to life in the voice of Peggy Hayama.

Released in 1964, this piece richly portrays student life at a mission school.

Prayers in the chapel, memories with friends, studying in the library, and fleeting first love—nostalgic scenes come vividly to mind.

It was performed on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 1965 and went on to become a million-seller.

Beloved as a standard song for graduations and reunions, it may prompt older listeners to reflect on their own school days.

Why not hum along, together with your cherished memories?

Let yourself go with the flow of timeTeresa Ten

Leave oneself to the flow of time / Teresa Teng (with lyrics)

A gem of a love song whose melody, filled with kindness and warmth, gently permeates the heart.

With gratitude for meeting a beloved person and a love so deep that one could give everything for them, Teresa Teng’s clear, transparent voice expresses these emotions with rich nuance.

Released in February 1986, the song won the Grand Prize at the 19th Japan Cable Awards, marking an unprecedented third consecutive win, and it resonated widely across Asia.

Its major-key, soaring melody gently touches the hearts of older listeners, offering a soothing moment wrapped in nostalgia.

As a song that creates a warm atmosphere where people can look back on the past and share their feelings for those they cherish, it also serves as a bridge for communication.

Becoming a Thousand WindsAkiyama Masashi

Masafumi Akikawa “A Thousand Winds” Music Video

As a masterpiece of beautiful Japanese ballads, Masafumi Akikawa’s singing voice has left a deep impression on many hearts.

With the powerful, soaring tone characteristic of a tenor, this gem of a song gently conveys the preciousness of life and feelings for loved ones.

Released in May 2006, it became an extraordinary hit for a classical singer, creating a major buzz that included Akikawa serving as the closing performer for the White Team at the NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen the following year.

In 2007, it was also selected as the theme song for a Fuji TV documentary drama.

Singing about the feelings one has for someone dear, this work continues to be cherished across generations as a song that resonates in many moments of life.